09. 07. 10. - 11:00

Fischer backs army as second term starts

Heinz Fischer has spoken out in support of keeping Austria’s compulsory military service, as he was sworn in as president yesterday (Thurs).

The former Social Democratic (SPÖ) science minister highlighted Austria’s participation in various international peace-keeping missions, adding that the army and conscription were part of the country’s constitution.

Fischer was sworn in as federal president at the parliament in Vienna after garnering almost 80 per cent in the election last April. This will be his second term as president after serving his first since 2004. Austrian law has it that the second term will be his last.

SPÖ Defence Minister Norbert Darabos said he agreed with Fischer’s views. Darabos claimed the six-month military service has proved to be a "full success". The minister described the Austrian regulations as "excellent".

These statements come weeks after Sweden decided to ditch its obligatory military service, while the German government is continuing to debate the issue and decide whether to follow European Union (EU) member state’s examples to cut costs.

The Austrian army’s reputation has meanwhile suffered dramatically. The Federal Audit Office (RH) recently appealed for more investments as several barracks posed a danger to soldiers’ health due to the bad hygienic state they were in.

The Austrian president is the army’s commander in chief, but the position’s overall role is a mostly representative one with little political power.

Fischer also appealed to political leaders in Carinthia to "quickly" solve the ongoing conflict about bilingual place-name signs in towns with Slovenian residents. He claimed everyone would benefit from a solution, adding that prejudices and hostile feelings among people needed to be abandoned.

Gerhard Dörfler, Carinthian Freedom Party (FPK) Governor said he was "surprised" about the president’s appeal. He said: "(SPÖ) Chancellor (Werner) Faymann is the political personality in charge of the issue. He only recently expressed the wish to find a solution by 2012. This is what I’m considering."

The right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) enraged representatives of the Slovenian minority today by announcing it would like to "withdraw" the applause of its leaders given when Fischer expressed his wish for a quick solution to the conflict in the southern province in his speech yesterday.

Most newspapers meanwhile expressed doubts over whether the president’s appeal will have any impact. Some columnists have criticised Fischer for being too reluctant and not outspoken enough throughout his political career, while others praise his ability to "build bridges" between opponents and find compromises.